Mobile terminal for small cell configuration and maintenance

Abstract

The claimed subject matter is directed to defining a framework that enables wireless communicability between base stations for maintenance and configuration purposes, even while disconnected from an operator network, and/or deployed in the field. Embodiments are particularly applicable in the cases of small-cell base transceiver stations deployed in inconvenient, secluded, elevated and/or difficult to reach locations. The small cell base transceiver station is operable to communicate wirelessly to wireless terminals and mobile computing devices by emulating select functionality from dedicated components in an operator network.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for wirelessly accessing a base transceiver station which is disconnected from an operator network, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the base transceiver station, a wireless transmission from a mobile computing device via a wireless maintenance network corresponding to the base transceiver station; 
 authenticating, by a plurality of emulators comprised in the base transceiver station, the mobile computing device as an authorized maintenance device for the base transceiver station; 
 automatically granting, by the base transceiver station, wireless access to a configuration terminal corresponding to the base transceiver station to the mobile computing device when the mobile computing device is authenticated; and 
 wirelessly configuring the base transceiver station from the mobile computing device through the configuration terminal of the base transceiver station. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the base transceiver station is deployed in the field. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein granting wireless access to a configuration terminal corresponding to the base transceiver station comprises granting access to a user via a graphical user-interface executing in the mobile computing device. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein wirelessly configuring the base transceiver station from the mobile computing device through the configuration terminal of the base transceiver station comprises receiving configuration parameters through the graphical user-interface. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless transmission comprises radio frequency communication. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the wireless transmission comprises a wide area network communication. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the wireless transmission comprises a wireless local area network communication. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein authenticating the mobile computing device as an authorized maintenance device for the base transceiver station comprises:
 establishing a connection between the mobile computing device and the base transceiver station; 
 initiating an attach procedure between the mobile computing device and the base transceiver station; 
 performing an authentication and key agreement process between the mobile computing device and the base transceiver station; 
 performing a security mode command process between the mobile computing device and the base transceiver station; and 
 reconfiguring the connection between the mobile computing device and the base transceiver station by allocating an IP address for the mobile computing device. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the connection comprises a radio resource control connection. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of emulators comprises at least one emulator from the group consisting of:
 a mobile management entity emulator; 
 a packet data network gateway emulator; 
 a serving gateway emulator; and 
 a home subscriber server emulator. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein wirelessly configuring the base transceiver station from the mobile computing device through the configuration terminal of the base transceiver station comprises at least one of:
 generating a summary view of a plurality of alarms corresponding to a plurality of zones corresponding to the mobile computing device; 
 performing real-time monitoring of the base transceiver station; 
 managing a plurality of software executing on the base transceiver station; and 
 managing and initiating a plurality of self-diagnostic tests performed by the base transceiver station.